Copyright: monacoeye • Folha Seca, Brazil • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Versicolored Emerald
Latin: Amazilia versicolor
Other: Versicoloured Emerald (UK) • Beija-flor-de-banda-branca (Br)
Family: Trochilidae • Hummingbirds
Range: Southeast and northeast Brazil, Amazonia
Similar:

The Versicolored Emerald was one of the more common types of hummingbird at Jonas’ feeders in Folha Seca, but I found them difficult to identify, so these photos are from the very-likely-but-not-certain bin.

Identification signs for the Versicolored Emerald include reddish lower bill, white mark behind eye, whitish belly, dusky blue subterminal band on tail. There are also regional variations.

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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • El Valle, Panama, May

Bird name: Black Faced Grosbeak
Latin: Caryothraustes poliogaster
Other: Picogrueso carinegro (Es)
Family: Cardinalidae • Grosbeaks
Range: South Mexico to Panama
Similar:

The Black-faced Grosbeak is yellowish below, with greenish upperparts and black face. Seen here in El Valle.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Mostardas, Brazil, November.

Bird name: Blue and White Swallow
Latin: Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
Other: Golondrina barranquera (Es) • Andorinha-pequena-de-casa (Br)
Family: Hirundinidae • Swallows
Range: Widespread South America, also Panama
Similar:

The Blue-and-White Swallow is a small swallow, with dark, blue-black and brown upperparts and white below except for under tail. NB dark rump.

The Blue-and-White Swallow seems one of the most widespread swallows in Latin America, seen frequently in Brazil, in Mostardas and Itatiaia, and then again in the highlands of Panama.

Below, a Blue-and-white Swallow in the Chiriqui highlands, Panama, May.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Chagres River, April 2010

Bird name: Mangrove Swallow
Latin: Tachycineta albilinea
Other:
Family: Hirundinidae • Swallows
Range: Widespread Middle America, incl Panama
Similar:

The Mangrove Swallow is a small swallow, identified in Panama by its white underparts and white facial marks in front of the eyes. It also has a white rump. The rest is dark brown or glossy blue black.

These Mangrove Swallows were beside the Chagres River in Gamboa.


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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, April 2010

Bird name: Palm Tanager
Latin: Thraupis palmarum
Other: Sanhaçu-do-coqueiro (Br) • Tangara (Es), Azulejo de palmeras
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers
Range: Guatemala to Paraguay & S Brazil
Similar: Olive-green, Sayaca Tanager (Brazil), Plain Tanager (Panama)

The Palm Tanager is one of the duller looking tanagers, in Brazil mostly uniform olive-green, with lighter patches on wing and darker tips, head lighter and greener, with only a black iris and bill which stand out.

In Panama, at least one pair roosted in the eves of the Canopy Tower. The Panama Palm Tanager (above) has brown wing tips and tail and is far less uniform and green than its Brazilian counterpart (lowest photo, next page). On close examination there was an almost purplish sheen to some of the back and chest of the birds in Panama.

In Brazil, the Olive-green tanager is yellower below, with distinct upper and lower halves, and fluffier. The Sayaca Tanager is obviously blue, not green, but from below in some lights, when both are pale can look similar - the same goes for Golden-chevroned Tanager, which can also look similar from below.

The Palm Tanager is fairly common throughout most of the northern half of South America and extending into Central America and the Caribbean. Found near houses as well as other areas.

Directly below, a Palm Tanager in Panama.


Below, a Palm Tanager in Ubatuba, Brazil, Nov 2009. Brazilian Palm Tanagers were a uniform greenish colour and lacked the brown wing of the Panama variety.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Alpes Maritimes, France • Dec Jan Feb 2009 2010 2011

Bird name: Alpine Accentor
Latin: Prunella collaris
Other: Accenteur Alpin (Fr) • Alpenbraunelle (De) • Acentor alpino (Es) • Sordone (It) • Ferreirinha-alpina (Pt)
Family: Prunellidae • Accentors
Range: Eurasia, N Africa above 2000m - Alps, Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada, Carpathians, Atlas etc. Winters at lower elevations, including near Monaco.
Similar: House Sparrow

There seem to be many Alpine Accentors about this year in the Alpes Maritimes, not far from the coast in the mountains.

The Alpine Accentor has yellow on the lower bill, black and white stippled throat, rufous streaking to sides of belly, line of white triangles on black on closed wings and greyish streaked upperparts. Overall a beautiful combination of subtle colouring and shades.

Alpine Accentors come to feeders in the mountains and seem extremely tame when they appear, perhaps used to receiving crumbs. They tend to hop around on the rocks or make short flights around a small area. Near Monaco this year there is a group of about six of them in one spot.



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© GW - monacoeye • Alpes Maritimes, France • Feb 2011

Bird name: European Robin
Latin: Erithacus rubecula
Other: Robin (UK) • Rouge-gorge familier (Fr) • Rotkehlchen (De) • Petirrojo (Es) • Pettirosso (It) • Pisco-de-peito-ruivo (Pt)
Family: Muscicapidae • Old World Flycatchers
Range: Widespread Eurasia, also N AFrica
Similar:

The European Robin is particularly visible in Monaco and the Alpes Maritimes in the winter. Also a typical garden bird in the UK, much loved and traditionally pictured on Christmas cards.

The adult Robin has a very characteristic red breast and face and is unlikely to be confused with any other bird in Europe.

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Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Lago Roca, Jan 2010

Bird name: Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle
Latin: Geranoaetus melanoleucus
Other: Aguila mora, águila chilena • Águia-chilena (Br)
Family: Accipitridae • Eagles, Birds of Prey
Range: Venezuela to S Chile, SE South America
Similar:

Many thanks to Becky for sending in this great set of pictures from Tierra del Fuego. This lovely picture of a juvenile Black-chested Buzzard Eagle was taken beside the road at Lago Roca in January.More photos...

Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Isla Martillo, Jan 2010

Bird name: Magellanic Penguin
Latin: Spheniscus magellanicus
Other: Pingüino de Magallanes (Es) • Pinguim-de-magalhães (Br)
Family: Spheniscidae • Penguins
Range: S South America
Similar:

A superb set of photos of Magellanic Penguins with chicks or juveniles. Photographed by Becky on Isla Martillo, aka Isla de Los Pingüinos, in January.

Magellanic Penguins are one of four types of banded penguin which all have some type of black line across the neck or chest.


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Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Isla Martillo, Jan 2010

Bird name: Gentoo Penguin
Latin: Pygoscelis papua
Other: Pingüino papúa, pingüino de vincha, pingüino juanito (Es) • pinguim-gentoo (Br)
Family: Spheniscidae • Penguins
Range: Widespread Southern Ocean
Similar:

This group of Gentoo Penguins was seen among a larger colony of Magellanic Penguins on Isla Martillo.

Adult Gentoo Penguins have orange bills and a white patch above the eye. Gentoo is pronounced with a soft ‘g’ like gentle.More photos...

© Rebecca N - monacoeye • All rights reserved • Los Lobos, Jan 2010

Bird name: Imperial Shag
Latin: Leucocarbo atriceps
Other: Cormorán imperial (Es) • Blue-eyed Shag or Cormorant
Family: Phalacrocoracidae • Cormorants, Shags
Range: Antarctica, South America, Falklands, Heard, South Shetland Is
Similar:

Many thanks to Becky for these shots of a large colony of Imperial Shags on Isla de Los Lobos.

Imperial shags are part of the Blue-eyed Shag complex whose species boundaries are being continually redefined.

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Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Los Lobos, Jan 2010

Bird name: Rock Shag
Latin: Phalacrocorax magellanicus
Other: Cormorán de cuello negro (Es)
Family: Phalacrocoracidae • Cormorants, Shags
Range: Chile, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, Uruguay, Falklands
Similar:

Rock Shags can quickly be identified by their red facial skin. Seen here on Isla de Los Lobos in the Beagle Channel by Becky.

Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Ushuaia, Jan 2010

Bird name: Upland Goose
Latin: Chloephaga picta
Other: Magellan Goose • Cauquén común (Es)
Family: Anatidae • Geese
Range: Argentina, Patagonia, Falklands, also Uruguay
Similar:

Nice pics of Upland Geese with goslings, near Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina.

The male Upland Goose has white head and neck whereas the female is brown with black-striped wings.

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Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Ushuaia, Jan 2010

Bird name: Ashy-headed Goose
Latin: Chloephaga poliocephala
Other: Cauquén cabeza gris (Es)
Family: Anatidae • Geese
Range: Southern Cone - Chile, Argentina, Patagonia, Falklands
Similar:

A great portrait of an Ashy-headed Goose above on the beach in Ushuaia. Pictured below in family group with goslings.

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© monacoeye • All rights reserved • Monaco • February

Bird name: Common Starling
Latin: Sturnus vulgaris
Other: European Starling, Starling (UK) • L'Étourneau sansonnet (Fr) • Star (De) • Estornino pinto (Es) • Storno (It) • Estorninho-comum (Pt)
Family: Sturnidae • Starlings
Range: Temperate Europe, W Asia, migrates south in the winter.
Similar: Blackbird, Spotless Starling (Spain, Portugal, Corsica)

Migrating Starlings are a common sight in cities in the winter, gathering in very large flocks and filling the trees of city squares. Large numbers arrive in Monaco in the winter, but authorities set up an anti-starling campaign over the last few years, with vans blasting hawk sounds, which seems to have had an effect.

Starlings are not just city birds, but also found in very large groups in the countryside and are a common garden bird. Like many other winter residents, near Monaco they favour olive trees and clear trees of all remaining olives in the winter months.

In the winter, birds are spotted: glossy dark with light tips to feathers. In the summer they lose this spotting. They have yellow bills, which darken in the winter, and so can be confused with blackbirds if only seen quickly.

A Common Starling in Reykjavik, May.
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Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Ushuaia, Jan 2010

Bird name: Dark-faced Ground Tyrant
Latin: Muscisaxicola maclovianus
Other:
Family: Tyrannidae • Tyrant Flycatchers, Ground-tyrants
Range: Chile, Argentina, Falklands to Uruguay, Peru
Similar:

This seems most likely to be a Dark-faced Ground Tyrant, but is not typical, so ID should not be relied upon.

Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Isla Martillo, Jan 2010

Bird name: Chilean Skua
Latin: Stercorarius chilensis
Other: Págalo chileno, escúa común, escúa chileno (Es)
Family: Stercorariidae • Skuas
Range: Argentina, Chile to Brazil, Peru
Similar: Brown Skua

These are most probably Chilean Skuas, (above with Magellanic Penguins behind) spotted by Becky down in Tierra del Fuego. Dark cap, cinnamon throat.
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Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Isla de Los Lobos, Jan 2010

Bird name: Dolphin Gull
Latin: Leucophaeus scoresbii
Other: Gaviota austral, gaviota gris (Es)
Family: Laridae • Gulls
Range: Chile, Argentina, Falklands coasts
Similar:

You can recognise the Dolphin Gull at the bottom of this picture by its bright red bill.

Copyright: RN/monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • El Calafate, Jan 2010

Bird name: Black-faced Ibis
Latin: Theristicus melanopis
Other: Ibis de cara negra (Es) • Íbis-de-cara-negra (Br)
Family: Threskiornithidae • Ibises
Range: Southern and western South America, incl. Argentina, Chile
Similar:

Black-faced Ibis seen on the coast of Patagonia in El Calafate, in January.

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Ubatuba, 2009

Bird name: Violaceous Euphonia
Latin: Euphonia violacea
Other:
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Euphonias
Range: N, SC South America, including Brazil Atlantic Forest
Similar: Thick-billed Euphonia, Purple-throated Euphonia

We saw these Violaceous Euphonias at Jonas’ fruit feeders in Ubatuba. Pretty much identical to the Thick-billed Euphonia, which fortunately is not in range on the coast of Brazil.

The male Violaceous Euphonia has blue-black upperparts and yellow-orange underparts and forehead. The female is greenish above and yellowish below.

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Copyright: AW/monacoeye • Geneva, Switzerland • June • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Common Merganser
Latin: Mergus merganser
Other: Goosander (UK) • Harle Bièvre, Grand Harle (Fr) • Gänsesäger (De) • Smergo comune (It)
Family: Anatidae • Ducks, Mergansers
Range: Widespread North America, Eurasia
SImilar: Red-breasted Merganser

The Goosander, or Common Merganser, is found in northern parts of the world - its reach does not extend down to the Côte d'Azur, however. These Goosanders were photographed by Lake Geneva.

The male, above, has dark upperparts, and light underparts. Females and juveniles have reddish heads and greyish bodies. Juveniles have a white line below the eye.

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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Monaco, February

Bird name: Great Tit
Latin: Parus major
Other: Mésange Charbonnière (Fr) • Kohlmeise (De) • Carbonero común (Es) • Cinciallegra (It) • Chapim-real (Pt)
Family: Paridae • Tits
Range: Europe, Asia, North Africa
SImilar: Coal Tit

The Great Tit is one of the most visible small birds in Monaco and the Cote d’Azur all year round, and the most common tit in Europe. This one was taken through the window glass on my balcony.

The male Great Tit has a larger black stripe down the chest and belly than the female. The Coal Tit is similar but has a white patch on back of head and no chest and belly stripe.

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Alpes Maritimes, January

Bird name: Peregrine Falcon
Latin: Falco peregrinus
Other: Faucon pèlerin (Fr) • Wanderfalke (De) • Halcón peregrino (Es) • Falco pellegrino (It) • Falcão-peregrino (Pt)
Family: Falconidae • Falcons
Range: Widespread worldwide
Similar:

The Peregrine Falcon is a powerful and fast bird which preys on other smaller birds. There is currently a pair nesting in the mountains above Monaco so one can often get a good view.

This was one of a pair I saw at the weekend. They often whizz past too fast for a crisp shot, but here he was circling up on a thermal, before shooting off down the mountainside. Females are larger than males, I think the bird pictured is a male.

Peregrines are reportedly able to reach speeds of up to 320 km/h (200 mph) and are thus the world’s fastest animal.

There are many different subspecies of Peregrine Falcon worldwide. The local subspecies, pictured above, and found around the Mediterranean, is Falco peregrinus brookei, also known as the Maltese Falcon.

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Copyright: TH/ monacoeye • Do not copy • Alpes Maritimes, France, winter.

Bird name: Coal Tit
Latin: Periparus ater
Other: includes Spot-winged Tit - P. melanolophus • Parus ater • Mésange Noire (Fr) • Tannenmeise (De) • Carbonero garrapinos (Es) • Cincia mora (It)
Family: Paridae • Tits
Range: Widespread Eurasia
Similar: Great Tit

Thanks to Tania for sending the photos of the Coal Tits at her winter feeders.

The Coal Tit is distinguishable by white wing bars and white mark on back of head.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010

Bird name: Yellow Thighed Finch
Latin: Pselliophorus tibialis
Other:
Family: Emberizidae • New World Sparrows
Range: Costa Rica, western Panama
Similar: Yellow-Green Finch, Slaty Finch

The adult Yellow-thighed Finch is generally instantly recognisable with its yellow thigh pompom, black head and grey body, although the juvenile may have no yellow thigh. Also can be difficult to see in the rain.

These Yellow-thighed Finches came to eat seed in the mountains above Los Quezales.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010

Bird name: Slaty Flowerpiercer
Latin: Diglossa plumbea
Other:
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Flowerpiercers
Range: Costa Rica and western Panama
Similar:

The Slaty Flowerpiercer has a uniquely shaped bill adapted to its special method of feeding. The lower half of the bill is upturned and the upper bill has a small downturned hook at the tip. Slaty Flowerpiercers use this to puncture the base of flowers and access the nectar.

The male is a small dark grey bird and the female brownish. If you can see the bill there can be no doubt as to the identification in Panama. Slaty Flowerpiercers were common among the garden flowers of Los Quetzales lodge.


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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010

Bird name: Streaked Saltator
Latin: Saltator striatipectus
Other:
Family: Cardinalidae • Saltators
Range: Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Similar: Streaked Flycatcher

The Streaked Saltator has similar colouring to the Streaked Flycatcher, but, of course, a completely different shaped bill.
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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010

Bird name: Slaty Finch
Latin: Haplospiza rustica
Other: Gorrión pizarra (Es), Pizarra, Pinzón pizarroso (Mex)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Seedeaters
Range: S Mexico to Venezuela, Bolivia
Similar:

The Slaty Finch is a little shy but I saw it coming to eat seed a couple of times near Cerro Punta, once at the Finca Dracula orchid farm seed feeder below and once when we put out some seed at Los Quetzales cabin number 8. The guide said that Slaty Finches were usually difficult to see.

The Slaty Finch is an all-grey bird found in the highlands.More photos...

Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Panama, Chiriqui, May 2010

Bird name: Yellow Faced Grassquit
Latin: Tiaris olivaceus
Other: Semillerito cariamarillo, Tomeguín de la tierra, viudito (Es)
Family: Thraupidae • Tanagers, Seedeaters, Grassquits
Range: Greater Antilles, E Mexico to Venezuela
Similar:

The male Yellow-faced Grassquit is quickly recognised by its distinctive face pattern, which almost resembles a nuclear hazard sign when viewed face on, with three yellow marks - two above the eyes and one below the chin. The female, directly below, is greyer with only a hint of the same pattern.

We saw Yellow-faced Grassquits frequently in Panama, in diverse habitats.


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Copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy without permission • Chiriqui, Panama 2010

Bird name: Tropical Mockingbird
Latin: Mimus gilvus
Other: Sinsonte, cenzontle tropical (Es) • Sabiá-da-praia (Br)
Family: Mimidae • Mockingbirds
Range: S Mexico to El Salvador, N, E South America

The Tropical Mockingbird which is endemic west of El Salvador and east of Colombia, was apparently introduced to Panama - I saw them at the Ammo Dump and in Chiriqui.

Light grey underneath with dark eye stripe and light iris.More photos...

Copyright: TH/monacoeye • Do not copy with permission • Alpes Maritimes, November

Bird name: Hawfinch
Latin: Coccothraustes coccothraustes
Other: Gros-bec casse-noyaux (Fr) • Kernbeißer (De) • Picogordo (Es) • Frosone (It) • Bico-grossudo (Pt)
Family: Fringillidae • Finches, Grosbeaks
Range: Widespread Eurasia, also N Africa
Similar:

The Hawfinch is a wary bird, easy to identify by its massive bill. Thanks to Tania for sending this picture of a visitor to her mountain feeder in November.More photos...